Ji Chang-wook taps his dark side for ‘Gangnam B-side’
There are many things you can say about South Korean actor Ji Chang-wook: He’s handsome, surprisingly humorous and incredibly charismatic. He has a sweet tooth, loves animals and has starred in some of the most iconic K-dramas. But one quality not often highlighted is that Ji is great with people.
The actor plays the antagonist in the upcoming Disney+ series “Gangnam B-side,” which starts streaming Nov. 27.
Director Park Noo-ri, speaking at a press conference on Oct. 30, said she seized the opportunity to work with Ji because she’s a longtime fan.
“I made sure to watch all the roles he has played. He’s portrayed a wide range of characters, but as a fan, I wanted to see him take on a more villainous role. I thought that if I could bring out his darker side, we’d witness something new from him,” Park said.
The director confessed that her mother is also a fan of Ji. She added that at the end of every shooting day, her mom would ask about Ji and how well things went on set with him.
Host Park Kyung-nim teased Park about how she and her mother like the same actor. Ji laughed and revealed that he worked with the director’s mother previously.
“She is a veteran actress who played my mother-in-law in the series ‘The Worst of Evil,’” he said, referring to actress Min Kyung-ok. Park’s sister also had a small part in the same series and through that, she also met Ji.
Actor’s input
This short exchange speaks volumes about the kind of person Ji is. To be praised by a former coworker indicates that he left a lasting, positive impression. Ji has always been polite and considerate to the people he works with—something Lifestyle has witnessed firsthand.
Last August, Ji was in Manila for a Bench fan meet. Before heading to the event, he met with select members of the press for an interview. On his way to the Grand Hyatt club boardroom, he spotted a staff member who had been present during his photo shoot for the brand. His face lit up. He made a quick detour toward the staff member, greeting them with the biggest smile and a warm hug.
This is the challenge Ji faced while preparing for his role: portraying a dark character despite being such a kind person in real life.
“Since the character lives in the gritty underbelly of Gangnam, I wanted him to reflect the harsh reality of someone at rock bottom. From the costumes to the makeup, I put a lot of thought into it,” he explained.
Ji revealed that his character, Gilho, always had a bruise or cut on his face. He wanted to show that Gilho is constantly in danger and involved in fights. It was his idea to add wounds to his appearance. He also selected more intense costumes (fur coats), which helped him stand out when next to other characters.
Gilho is a notorious broker searching for a runaway named Jaehee (played by Kim Hyung-seo). This is how he crosses paths with Dongwoo (played by Jo Woo-jin). Jo describes Dongwoo as a detective with a strong sense of justice.
Ha Youn-kyoung plays Seojin, a prosecutor determined to succeed. Ha mentioned that she met with many prosecutors to study her role and learned a lot of legal jargon. The lives of these four characters intertwine in what promises to be a thrilling crime drama.
